Improvement in feeding nail-plates



` F. E. BOYD.

Feeder for Nail Cutting Machines.

Patented March 17, 1868.

Zwaan/Z521:

FRANCIS E. BOYD, OFBOS'ION, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 75,620, dated March 17, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEEDING NAIL-PLATBS.

this tllrtide aferra it in that tritcrs atent mit milking pnt nf tip smite.

Be it known that I, FRANCIS BOYD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Feeding the Plate from which the Nails are Cut to the Nail-Cutter, of Awhich the following is a full, clem-and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication, in' which-'- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan 4view of the same.

Figure 3 is partly a transversesectional view, and partly a rear elevation.

`Figure 4 is a modification of the concave cara-wheel;- and Figure 5 is an end view of the' cam attached to the barrel or holder, which carries the nipper-rod.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several gures. i

Various attempts have been made -to provide an automatic feed-movement to thc nail-plate in nail-cutting machines, but, in consequence of the uncertain operation of the devices employed, they have failed to answer the-purpose, and feeding by hand is still mainly resorted to.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for automaticallyfecding the plate or:

' blank from which the nails arewcut to the nail-cutting machine, and at the same time presenting the sides of the plate alternately to the action of the cutters, so that the wrist-movement of the nipper-rod will be certain, wandf its feed positive; Vand The invention consists in so arranging and vconnecting the nipperuod and barrel with thelframe as to enable the nipper-rod to be readily removed from the machine when the nail-plate is used up, and another Dipper-rod, with a fresh plate, to be substituted during the operation of the machine. The invention also consists in the. mode of imparting a semi-rotatingi movement to the barrel which contains the nipper-rod. It further consists of a tilting-frame, in which is mounted a barrel or holder containing a sliding nipper-rod Vand rack.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame or bed of 'the machine, which may form a part of the nail-cutting machine, o r be attached to the same in any suitable manner. In the frame A is hungra suitable bearings, a shaft, C, to which motion may be imparted by any first-moving power. Within the frame A. is a secondary frame, A' A', which is, supported on the shaft'C, and arranged to tilt upon the same, as shown in red lines in 1. Within the frame A' A', and upon the' shaft C, is firmly secured a wheel, B B B', formed with aconcave central surface, B', and two projecting sides,]? B, in which latter :1re two cam-paths or grooves, b, of the form shown in dotted lines in fig. 1 and in fig. 3, the same extending each partially around the inner sides of the projecting portions, B B, and crossing the concave portion, B', as shownin tig. 3.

Mounted in suitable bearings,` E E, in the movable frame A' A', is a barrel or holder, D, on the central portion of which is a pin or projection, d, which travels in the cam-grooves formed in the whecl B B B', s0 that, as th latter is rotated either wholly or only half way round, the barrel D will remain in`one position during a portion of the movement ofthe said wheel. I t will then be turned half way round, iuwhich position it will remain until the projection d, on the barrel, again crosses the concave portion, when it will be turned back again to its rst position, the action upon the barrelbeing the same whether the wheel be rotated entirely or only half way round. Passing longitudinally through the centre of the barrel D is a nipper-rod, F, provided with a spline, or otherwise constructed, so as to prevent its turning within the barrel, and yet allow it to slide freely in the same, and turn with it. It is provided with jaws,'e e, fr holding the nail-plate, and, conforming to the motions of the barrel D, is' made to present alternately the two faces of the nail-plate to the action of the cutters.

On a projecting end of the barrel D is secured a cam, G, which bears upon a curved block, H, as shown in iig. 5, the object of which is to elevate the nipper-rod, so as to allow the nail-plate to be raised free from the bed as it is turned from one side to the other. Afriction-roller maybe substituted for the block H, if desirable.

The forward feed-movement of the nipper-rod is accomplished by means of :track-bar, I, fitted to slide freely in the bearings or guides E' E', and engaging with -a pawl, L, attached to a sliding block, M, to which motion is imparted from a' bar, N, attached to any moving portion of the machine, and the motion being such as to cause the pawlrto engage successively with the teeth of the racln The rack and pawl may be adjusted to adapt the motion of the ni'pper-rod to the required width ot' thenail to be cu't. To the outer end of the rack-bar I is attached e head, K, extending et right angles from the'said bnr, and provided with an openin\, that slips over the end of the nipper, and t-s against a shoulder on the same, so as to enable the nipper-rod to he easily slipped out at the end of its movement when the plate is entirely,r cut up.

Fig. 4 shows a. modification of the wheel B B', consisting o f a. disk, O, of the shape shown, and provided with projections, LR R, in connection with a curved rib or cam, Q, on the 4borrel P, the scid com passing through on opening between the projections R, and imparting to the barrel n movement similar to that of the wheei B B', above described.

When the machine is'to be operated, the neil-plate is placed between thejaws e e, and, by the motion ofthe barrel D, the neil-ploteiis' presented alternately on cach side to the notion of the cutters, the plate being fed up at each time by mezins of the rack and pawl I Il. When the nail-plate is entirely gut up, the frame A A is tilted upwards, as shown in the red lines in fig. l, which throws the rack I out of connection with the pnwl L, the wheel B B' and barrel D at the same time being stopped. The flipper-rod may then be et once withdrawn from the barrel, and another nipper-rod, provided with a. fresh plete, is immediately inserted in the borrel. The frame A A' is then brought down, and the parts all thrown into connection, und the operation proceeds as before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Potent., is-

l. The movable nipper-rod F, in combination with the rech-bar I, head K, slidinl block M, and pewl Z, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. I claim the combination of the holder or barrel D, provided with the projection or pin d and the wheel B B' B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. I claim the tilting-frame A' A', in combination with the holder or barrel D, rack-hor I, and wheel B B' B; :is and for the purpose speciied.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in`the presence ci' two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS E. BOYD..

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, P. S. TYLER. 

